APS BUDGET IN FOCUS SERIES: Article One

Akron Public Schools (APS) is excited to announce the launch of "APS Budget in Focus," a new, mulit-part press release series designed to bring unprecedented transparency to how your taxpayer dollars are invested in our school district. We're committed to demonstrating our fiscal responsibility and providing clear, data-driven insights into our operational efficiency and rigorous cost and revenue management. This series will break down the complexities of school finance into understandable segments, offering a deep dive into key areas of district spending and revenue generation.

"APS Budget in Focus" is your direct line to understanding the financial decisions that shape our schools. We believe that an informed community is our strongest partner in ensuring Akron Public Schools continues to provide an excellent education for every student. Check out the first installment in this series, offering a detailed look at our administrative costs and efficiencies.

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Important News for Akron Families: How a State Bill Could Impact Our Schools and City Services

AKRON, OH – June 20, 2025 – Akron Public Schools (APS) wants to make sure all families and taxpayers understand a serious proposal at the state level that could significantly change how our schools and city services are funded. Portions of the State Operating Budget (House Bill 96), which considers significant changes to Ohio's property tax laws, in particular, stripping away local control over our own local dollars. 

"We want to speak directly to our families and taxpayers about what this bill means for Akron," said Dr. Stacey Hodoh, Director of Communications for Akron Public Schools. "It's about making sure our schools have the stable funding they need, and that our local community keeps a say in how its money is spent."

Understanding the Money Talk: What's "Inside Millage" and Why Does It Matter?

Right now, a portion of your property taxes helps fund our schools and city services like police, fire, and parks. This money is called "inside millage." It's a steady source of income that cities and schools count on to cover day-to-day costs without needing a special vote every time. Think of it as a dependable part of our budget.

Here's what part of HB 96 would do:

Take away "Inside Millage": The bill wants to get rid of this dependable local funding. There is no clear plan in the bill to replace this lost money.
Stop new local school levies: Right now, communities can vote on "emergency" or "substitute" levies to fund specific school needs or replace older levies. This bill would stop those votes, taking away your voice in how to directly support our schools.
Let county officials overrule local votes: The bill would give county budget commissions the power to change local levies that voters have already approved. This means decisions made by Akron voters could be undone by others.

If these tax-related portions of HB 96 are included in the final version, Akron Public Schools would lose an estimated $14.7 million every single year. To help you picture that: this is more than 3.5% out of every dollar in our school district's entire operating budget. Based on research, that equates to 147 teaching positions. Losing this much money so quickly would force us to make difficult and immediate cuts to:

Our Staff: This could mean fewer teachers in classrooms, less support staff, and fewer administrators, directly impacting the education your child receives.
Student Programs: Many valuable programs and activities that enhance our students' learning and development could be cut or eliminated.

"This isn't just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it's about the services and opportunities we can provide our children every day," said Mary B. Outley, Superintendent of Akron Public Schools. "A loss of this magnitude would fundamentally reshape the educational experience in Akron, and not for the better."

"The financial implications of the tax law portions of HB 96 are staggering for Akron Public Schools," added Dr. Stephen Thompson, Treasurer of Akron Public Schools. "This bill removes foundational revenue streams with no replacement, forcing us to consider drastic cuts that would compromise our ability to meet the needs of our students and maintain our operational stability. It’s a direct threat to our district’s financial well-being."

This bill doesn't just hurt schools; it impacts the whole city. The City of Akron also relies on "inside millage" to pay for police, fire, parks, and other daily city operations. 

These tax provisions are a rushed plan that we believe would seriously harm public education and take away local control from communities like ours.

Decisions about our community's money should be made carefully, with clear information, and most importantly, with the voters in charge. The inclusion of these tax provisions in HB 96 would place an undue burden on families due to less individualized attention for children, fewer programs and services (art, music, sports, counseling, summer school, etc.), and a reduction in specialized interventions for students with unique learning needs.

Your Voice is Powerful: Please Act Now

Akron Public Schools strongly encourages all families and taxpayers to understand the serious problems with the tax provisions within HB 96. Please contact your state legislators and ask them to:  

1. Reject meddling with inside millage (funds already approved by voters to use); 
2. Reject any effort to strip local voters of their power to decide which local levies are best for their community; and 
3. Reject any attempt to use local budget commissions to override decisions already made by local voters

By June 23rd please be sure to email Conference Committee Members who are negotiating these issues and our local Akron delegation, so they are aware: 

Sen. Jerry Cirino, Chairman, Senate Finance Committee: cirino@ohiosenate.gov
Sen. Brian Chavez, Vice Chairman, Senate Finance Committee: chavez@ohiosenate.gov
Rep. Brian Stewart, Chairman, House Finance Committee: Rep12@ohiohouse.gov
Rep. Michael Dovilla, Vice Chairman, House Finance Committee: Rep17@ohiohouse.gov
Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson, Ranking Member, Senate Finance Committee: hicks-hudson@ohiosenate.gov
Rep. Bride Rose-Sweeney, Ranking Member, House Finance Committee: Rep16@ohiohouse.gov

These legislators represent Akron:

District 32: Ohio House Representative: Jack K. Daniels, Rep32@ohiohouse.gov
District 33: Ohio House Representative: Veronica R. Sims, Rep33@ohiohouse.gov
District 34: Ohio House Representative: Derrick Hall, Rep34@ohiohouse.gov
District 28: Ohio Senate Representative: Casey Weinstein, weinstein@ohiosenate.gov

Up Next:

APS Budget in Focus Series | Budget Balancing Act and Administrator Efficiencies

APS Budget in Focus Series |What APS Capital Projects Mean for Your Investment in Education